NEW RIVER CHURCH, EDMONTON

175m2 extension and refurbishment

New River Church extension architectural design by Eden Creative

First floor childrens and youth space design by Eden Creative

gospel hall refurbishment by Eden Creative

I am incredibly interested and passionate about spaces that connect people with their Maker, so this project was an exciting step for my studio.

The existing church building is based in North Enfield, London. The design brief was to create a new first floor space for youth and children’s work, a new stage extension, to enlarge and refurbish the existing sanctuary space, improve general access to the building, and provide a seating area for the local community.

The design reflects the churches desire to become more transparent, accessible and welcoming, as well as a focal point for the local community to use and enjoy. Key features include:

A large first-floor extension to house a new youth space, children’s space, pastor’s office and ancillary facilities. The façade is fully glazed to allow for transparency from the street, whilst also allowing light to penetrate into the depths of the new space. Large internal windows provide views into the refurbished sanctuary space as well.
A side stage extension, rendered white, with an inset cross to give the church a more formal street presence.
A new bespoke 7m tall stained-glass window for the main façade of the existing gospel hall. The glass will let in lots of natural light into the sanctuary in varying different shades, as well as providing glimpses into the depths of the building from the street.
A new entrance on the main façade that projects 2.5m out from the existing building towards the pavement, conceived as a ‘glass box’ to welcome all users, and provide shelter.
Larch cladding around all of the new tapered soffits, as well as The existing gospel hall to soften the buildings visual impact as well as provide a finish that will weather nicely as the building ages.
A standing seam metal roof has been proposed for the roofscape across the stage extension, gospel hall, and new first floor extension. GRP will be used across the areas of the roof which are not visible. Flat modern linear aluminium skylights puncture the new first floor roof to let light enter the youth and children’s spaces. The roof extends down to the ground floor entrance harmonising the ground and first floors, whilst also lapping over the tapered wall at the rear of the first floor.

The project is currently at Planning stage.